Huge free agent acquisition Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is tentatively scheduled to make his highly anticipated Octagon debut at UFC 73 on July 7 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California, according to MMAWeekly.com.
No opponent has been named, but UFC President Dana White has mentioned in previous interviews that it will be someone at the top of the heavyweight division. Brandon Vera has been a name that keeps popping up, but again, it’s all speculation at this point.
“Big Nog” was introduced at UFC 69 last month after more than six years in the PRIDE FC organization. In fact, he was the heavyweight champion at two different times during his tenure in Japan.
Nogueira is a ridiculous Brazilian jiu-jitsu grappler, who is also perhaps the hardest man in mixed martial arts to finish. In fact, it’s never happened despite being on the receiving end of some major punishment during some fights.
If he does indeed fight in the Golden State come July, “Minotauro” joins a monster card that includes the middleweight championship bout between Anderson Silva and Nathan Marquardt, as well as the 155-pound title tilt between Sean Sherk and Hermes Franca
Oh yeah, two bums (sarcasm, folks) — Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans -— are also scheduled to throwdown that night.
What a good night to be Californian.
April 29th, 2007
32 Comments »
If this card shapes up the way the speculation is heading, then I’m proud to be a UFC fan because this is how all the cards should be stacked.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is an outstanding jujitsu fighter,remembered once for a special win over Mirko(cro cop)Filipovic for the interim title where he submited the croation sensation with an outstanding armbar much to the delight of his fans.I have took the time to give some of my knowledge of (big Nog)to you guys who are new to the wonderfull sport of MMA(mixed martial arts).
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira(otherwise known as big nog)was born June 2nd 1976 in the town of Vitoria da Conquista,Brazil.
He has a brother Antonio Rogerio Nogueira who is also an MMA fighter fighting in the PRIDE middleweight division.
At just the age of five the young Antonio Rodrigo Noueira(big nog) started training judo.
At the age of ten he was hit by a truck which left him seriously hurt in a coma for four days,he lost a rib and also part of his liver in this accident.He has a large scar on his lower back as a result of that unfortunate mishap.
At the age of fourteen he was invited to train Brazilian ju-jitsu under Ricardo de la Riva Goded,he had previously done some boxing prior to this.
It wouldnt be until 1999 when Nogueira would be awarded his black belt in both judo and ju-jitsu.
Just a few years after his MMA debut he started to train with the Brazilian Top Team.
Nogueira is mainly known for his superhuman ability to absorb devestating punishment yet still come back and win the fight,notibly against the formidable Bob Sapp who punished the Brazilian before tiring and and being submited by an armbar(his fight with Cro Cop would end in a similar fashion).
notible victories he has are over former UFC champions Josh Barnet and Ricco Rodriguez,he also holds victories over formidable fighters such as Mirko Cro Cop,Bob Sapp,Dan Henderson,Mark Coleman and Heath Herring.
I do not doubt that Big Nog is going to be a real threat in the heavyweight division.
[quote comment=”46652″]If this card shapes up the way the speculation is heading, then I’m proud to be a UFC fan because this is how all the cards should be stacked.[/quote]
i heard that, this card is tight, i can’t wait for 73…
Is the website all screwed up again. The font is weird and all the red lettering is HUGE.
This might be the most stacked card to date for the UFC. I dont think we will see another one this good until the ‘Super Bowl’.
And also, I thought Little ‘Nog’ fought in the light heavyweight division. I clearly remember seeing him fight Shogun and get knocked out by that Remeau dude from Team Quest.
Will see if he can handle the Hype, so far everybody else that has came from pride and marketed have been not-soo sucessul in the octagon, we’ll see, but this card is definitely worth the $$$
Finally, this is the bombest card. I wouldnt be surprised it they change something though. Seems to good to be true. Hope im wrong. Big Nog will def make an impact in the heavyweight division. One of the most consistant fighters ever. He wont have a little fluke thing happen to him like heath and CC.
MTU. Yeah, I see it to, website has a problem right now.
Yeah that guy is the real deal for sure. All ufc heavyweights need to worry about this guy and what he can do on and off his feet. No flukes or holes in his game.
Wow ! This going to be nutz. I hope he’s fighting Brandon Vera
I was still hoping he would be on the 72 card. Although free on Spike that card needs some help right now. CC and Rampage got thrown into the mix right after anouncement. 73 seems to far away to see Big Nog
Rumors have it that Nogueira is going to fight Vera. This would be a pretty good fight, but it would be pretty cool if it was Nogueira vs Crocop. Some may say that crocop just recently fought, and this is true, but i remember reading something along the lines that crocop wanted to go through his contract quickly and have the belt in time to fight fedor at the pride new years eve show. So this would mean that crocop would fight once every 2-3 months. and ufc 73 is about 2 and a half months apart from ufc 70. So if his foot is healed up by then, who knows… (it’s just wishful thinking and the card is stacked already, but who knows)
[quote comment=”46752″]Rumors have it that Nogueira is going to fight Vera. This would be a pretty good fight, but it would be pretty cool if it was Nogueira vs Crocop. Some may say that crocop just recently fought, and this is true, but i remember reading something along the lines that crocop wanted to go through his contract quickly and have the belt in time to fight fedor at the pride new years eve show. So this would mean that crocop would fight once every 2-3 months. and ufc 73 is about 2 and a half months apart from ufc 70. So if his foot is healed up by then, who knows… (it’s just wishful thinking and the card is stacked already, but who knows)[/quote]
The Nog/CC fight would be great but at this time I want to see Nog/Vera. Nog now in the UFC and Vera unproven superstar. CC will be back in the mix soon, but it’s time for Vera to put up or shut up.
I have no desire to see Nog and Cro Cop, been there, done that. Im much more interested in seeing him match up with the top UFC guys, like Vera, Sylvia, Arlovski, and hopefully Randy someday. Big Nog is also one of those guys who is always on his game. It’s very possible for him to hold the belt Sooner than later.
Man, I ve never seen anyone take a beating like Big nog took from Fedor, I dont see what Vera could possibly do to this guy to win, or anyone in ufc for that matter. I think hes gonna be the new champ for awhile.
[quote comment=”46689″]This might be the most stacked card to date for the UFC. I dont think we will see another one this good until the ‘Super Bowl’.
And also, I thought Little ‘Nog’ fought in the light heavyweight division. I clearly remember seeing him fight Shogun and get knocked out by that Remeau dude from Team Quest.[/quote]
Shogun also fights in the PRIDE middleweight division which is the equivelant of the UFC light heavyweight division
I hope he fights vera that would be awesome.
does anyone know if anderson silva and big nog are training together again?
[quote comment=”46817″]Man, I ve never seen anyone take a beating like Big nog took from Fedor, I dont see what Vera could possibly do to this guy to win, or anyone in ufc for that matter. I think hes gonna be the new champ for awhile.[/quote]
yeh that beating fedor gave him was quite shocking. the only way i see vera winning is with one clear power kick to the kidney or head - big nog could win in lots of ways, but then again i dont think anyone has seen what vera is really, really made of. this would be a great test.
It really should be Nog Vs Vera!
The UFC can’t afford any more upsets that basicly kill big PPV dates.
Serra should not have been in the ring Vs GSP!
IE: GSP Vs Hughes, Diego is off and either would have been
huge.
Diego should have went for the title now he is out.
IE a undefeated top talent like Diego Vs GSP or Hughes would have been huge.
Should have struck when the kettle was hot now Cro Cop is out.
Nog Vs Vera is perfect!
Winner is ready for a title shot.
Evans Vs Tito is awsome, but why give Evans a fight Vs a guy is pretty damm good in Tito and Tito is about as far out from getting a shot as one can be. Evans should be fighting a Lyota or Jardine (yes i know they train together) winner gets a shot.
I thought I heard Sherk Vs Hermes was moved to Aug?
Nog improved his boxing skills since that fight with CC, but in that fight he got knocked down by CC leg kick, and the end of round saved him. Then he pulled armbar in second round.
He, for sure, imroved boxing and is not just ju-jitsu threat.
[quote comment=”46752″]Rumors have it that Nogueira is going to fight Vera. This would be a pretty good fight, but it would be pretty cool if it was Nogueira vs Crocop. Some may say that crocop just recently fought, and this is true, but i remember reading something along the lines that crocop wanted to go through his contract quickly and have the belt in time to fight fedor at the pride new years eve show. So this would mean that crocop would fight once every 2-3 months. and ufc 73 is about 2 and a half months apart from ufc 70. So if his foot is healed up by then, who knows… (it’s just wishful thinking and the card is stacked already, but who knows)[/quote]
Didn’t you see how CC landed? I think he is gonna need more than a few months.
mahde, yes i did see how crocop landed. He was able to walk from the octagon and later said it was just some ligament damage. I dont know how long that would take to heal or how serious it is, thats why i said, “if his foot is healed up by then” and he is already talking about training so… u never know
But hasn’t Nog been out of fighting since 2005? He might be a bit rusty this first fight. And the cage is different than fighting in a ring. I’m sure he is training in a cage but he still won’t have much experience with it. Seems like they want Vera to lose even though I think they just came to terms with him on his next contract. Surprised they aren’t giving Nog a warm up with a sack of crap like Frank Mir to get the buzz going.
I think the fight everyone really wants to see is henderson lidell henderson holds two belts has never been knocked out takes everyone down he fights and even fights heavys like nog and liddell cant say that.But white wants lidell to keep the belt so this match my not take place
[quote comment=”47055″]But hasn’t Nog been out of fighting since 2005? He might be a bit rusty this first fight. And the cage is different than fighting in a ring. I’m sure he is training in a cage but he still won’t have much experience with it. Seems like they want Vera to lose even though I think they just came to terms with him on his next contract. Surprised they aren’t giving Nog a warm up with a sack of crap like Frank Mir to get the buzz going.[/quote]
Nog just fought on New Years Eve in an awesome match against Barnett.
******NEWS FLASH******
It’s Nog vs Herring at 73.
[quote comment=”49464″]******NEWS FLASH******
It’s Nog vs Herring at 73.[/quote]
Is that official? Seems like a given Nog to me. interesting though
[quote comment=”49468″]
Is that official? Seems like a given Nog to me. interesting though[/quote]
Yes: “Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira steps into the Octagon’ for the first time for a heavyweight war with Heath Herring”
Source: http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=5723
[quote comment=”49560″][quote comment=”49468″]
Is that official? Seems like a given Nog to me. interesting though[/quote]
Yes: “Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira steps into the Octagon’ for the first time for a heavyweight war with Heath Herring”
Source: http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=5723/quote
COOL. I got mine from MMAonTap. Those guys get a lot right. But if you saw it on UFC.com, which you did, then it’s as confirmed as anything can be.